Matchmaker

Chapter 2

As the two raced down the way, Nick wouldn't stop talking.

"How did the police department even survive without us?" He smirked, sipping his coffee. "I meant, we solved a crime no one else could solve, stopped a racing sloth, and now this! We're basically the power team."

"Can you please shut up and let me drive?"

Nick was silent for a moment then said "Seriously though, are we the only ones who ever do anything? Hey, are we going to get the donuts after this? Should we even be doing anything when we're supposed to be off getting donuts?"

Judy turned up the the police radio. Clawhauser was on. "Calling all units! Calling all units! There's been a robbery on Main and Tiger Woods lane! The bank down there....um..." Some muffled sounds came from the radio. "Hey chief? What's the bank's name? Oh! And do Hopps and Wilde have to go to the robbery? They were bringing donuts-" he was cut off and replaced by Chief Bogo.

"All units to the bank. We cannot let the animals in this city think we have lost a hold on their safety after everything that has happened. We have to get some good publicity back on our side. We-er I mean-Hopps and Wilde may have stopped a major crime that took place, but we still have been made out like fools for falling for it in the first place."

Judy grabbed the radio and spoke into it. "We're on it Chief! We are in close proximity. Over."

Static, then "Have you grabbed the donuts yet?" Clawhauser.

Before Judy could respond, Nick grabbed the radio. "Not yet. Because little miss hero over here decided that we had to save the day first."

"Oh good. I wanted to make sure you guys got the chocolate sprinkle ones for Chief Bogo. He's been having some cravings."

"Clawhauser!" Bogo yelled.

A beat. Then "over." Clawhauser.

Judy took the radio back from the fox. "Building in sight. Hopps and Wilde on the case."

Nick suddenly leaned forward. "There's a shadowy figure on the right. Looks like it's coming directly from the bank."

"Worth looking into?"

"Depends. Think the bank will be there when we get back?"

Judy glanced at him, then quickly spun the car to the right. The other officers could gather evidence while they explored a suspicious character.

The shadowy figure looked back, eyes covered with sunglasses, then sped up upon seeing the car. The figure ducked into a small alleyway, too small for their car.

Judy stopped the car and the two got out. Nick laughed, "Oh ho ho! Running away from the police is a dead giveaway that you're suspicious. Y'know," Nick looked to Judy, "This character has a lot to learn about making a profit." The two raced after the animal, who was covered in a large trench coat and a hat, successfully disguising whatever animal it was. Judy noted that the animal was taller than either of them but also shorter then an elephant or giraffe. He carried a duffel bag along with him.

"Freeze! This is the police!"

The two jumped over a dumpster that the animal in question had jumped over previously. Nick looked at Judy disbelievingly. "I'm sure that he knows that Hopps. That's probably why he's running!"

Judy rolled her eyes and looked back ahead of her, only to see the animal's bag get caught. A ripping sound and suddenly a blue jewel fell from the hole. The animal grabbed the bag and held it to his chest.

Judy skidded to a stop, grabbed the jewel, and quickly got up to continue the chase. The covered figure turned right out of the alley.

The two raced quickly towards the end, stopping when they lost track of where he went. Somehow, they had lost him in a crowd.

The two looked around. "What? Where'd he go?"

Judy looked up at Nick, who scanned the area. He looked back to her and shrugged. "Maybe he doesn't have as much to learn as I thought."

Judy glanced around. "Let's split up. Look for someone who was about the size of the suspicious character."

The two separated, looking for the tall animal, maybe holding a bag carrying whatever was stolen.

Nick stopped a pig with similar glasses with the animal in question. Turns out, he had an alibi. He had been in a store for a couple hours reading a book.

Judy stopped a hippo with a trench coat but after further investigation, it turned out the hippo couldn't even fit in the alleyway.

After a final sweep, the two concluded that they had lost the animal.
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On the ride back to the bank, it was Judy who couldn't stop talking. Nick decided it would be safer if he drove.

"How did we lose someone with a suspicious coat and sunglasses? And a duffel bag?" Judy took out the blue jewel that had fallen from the bag, examining it.

Nick sipped his coffee, thinking. "Maybe he threw the stuff into a dumpster."

"Maybe, but there were no other animals that were as tall!"

Nick glanced at her. "Didn't the news report say that this mystery animal could change his size?"

Judy racked her brains and remembered that that was exactly what the news cast had said.

"Gah!" Judy, frustrated, slumped in her seat. Nick stopped the car at a red light. "Buckle up Hopps, or else I might have to arrest you."

Judy, embarrassed, quickly put her seatbelt on. "How can you make jokes when we let the bad guy get away?"

Nick shrugged and rolled the car forward when the light turned green. "We don't have all the facts yet. We tried and we failed. So what? This is a criminal. Criminals will often stay a criminal until they are otherwise persuaded by a bunny in a uniform." Nick smirked at her as he pulled up to the bank. "We'll get another chance." He parked the car. "And if we don't we can always go into the crime business." Judy rolled her eyes and got out of the car. Her eyes widened when she saw the crime scene.

The place was utter chaos. Officer McHorn was interviewing a sheep, who was crying. Judy would find when she later read the report, the sheep had had a priceless family jewel in the bank that had been stolen. Officers left and right were trying to gather evidence and keep other animals out.

Chief Bogo was there, speaking with a wolf in uniform. The wolf turned away and Bogo turned to Nick and Judy.

"Chief," Judy sounded breathless, "What happened? Was this really all one animal?"

"Yeah, how much was stolen, exactly?"

Bogo took a moment to answer. "Quite a bit, actually."

Bogo gestured for them to follow him.